Notes

RESEARCH
The following info comes from Sloane Davis in an email dated 9 JAN.,
2002 (SRHAFALOF@aol.com)

William DAVIS married Rhoda SORRELS on Sep 8, 1816, in Surry County,
NC. [Marriage Record: William DAVIS and Rhoda SORRELS/SONELS; Bondsman
was Edward HOPPIES]. The 1820 Census, Bedford County, TN, p. 66, ACI
#35: William DAVIS
2001-1; two males below age 10; one male 16-25; and one female below
age 10; Rhoda may have been enumerated with her parents in the next
household of Edward SORRELS. There is some question about whether the
two side-by-side households, William DAVIS & Edward SORRELS, on that
1820 Bedford County Census were actually our William SORRELS and his
father-in-law next door.

William and Rhoda [SORRELS] DAVIS had two sons, Jesse P. DAVIS, born
Jan 22, 1818, and George DAVIS, born Nov 15, 1818. They were probably
the two males under age 10 in William's household on the 1820 Bedford
County Census. William Hampton DAVIS apparently was not in William and
Rhoda's household. They married in September of 1816. Jesse P. was
born 16 months later in
January of 1818. There is not really enough of a window to have had
another viable child before Jesse P. There is also just ten months
between Jesse P. and George who was born in November of 1818.

Notes

BIOGRAPHY
James first appeared in the census in 1840. He is listed on page 95
in Bedford Co., TN, near his father John. The family consisted of one
male age 15-20 (James), one female 20-30 (Elizabeth), and one male
under the age of 5 (John Riley).
James moved the family from Tennessee to Missouri around 1855.
Legend has it that James went to Missouri because his uncle James
Massey had moved there and sent word back that there was plenty of
land. This uncle is the ancestor of most of the Laclede Co., MO
Masseys.
Wright Co., MO courthouse records show that James patented the
following land: W 1/2 NE 1/4, Section 5, Township 31, Range 14 in
October, 1856, S 1/2 NE 1/4, Section 5, Township 31, Range 14 in
December, 1856, NE 1/4 NW 1/4, Section 5, Township 31, Range 14 in
May, 1857, SE 1/4 NE 1/4, Section 6, Township 31, Range 14 in 1858,
all near "the old Smittle store" and the Mount Olive School.

RESEARCH
Need to check census record listed in text. Is it 1840 or 1850?
Need to get a copy of James Massey's estate from Barbara Willoughby.
Need to find Goodspeed's History of Wright Co., MO. It lists a James
Massey as having died in Andersonville, GA (the Confederate prison
camp). This may have been James' aforementioned uncle. Need to order
James' Civil War file from the National Archives (Pvt., 2nd Battery K,
2 Regt., Missouri L. Artillery) It says that he died in a New Madrid,
MO on April 15, 1864. Also gives info about family. James' uncle
served in Co. G, 16th MO Cavalry, should look for James there too.
Is this the James named in Elsberry Wright Co., MO records as having
died intestate, 10 Sept. 1867??